Chiefs Lineman Trey Smith Talks Helping ‘Panicked’ Children During Super Bowl Parade Shooting

The athlete ducked into a closet inside Union Station and helped to calm down fans, he told "Good Morning America" on Thursday

• Chiefs player Trey Smith helped people safely evacuate the scene following the shooting at the Super Bowl parade and rally in Kansas City on Wednesday

• Smith and others ducked into a closet inside Union Station where he comforted a young boy

• Later, while on one of the team buses, Smith soothed another child and handed him the WWE championship belt that he carried during the parade

When shots rang out at the Kansas City Chiefs 2024 Super Bowl victory parade and rally on Wednesday, offensive lineman Trey Smith helped bystanders — including children — who were caught in the rush to evacuate the scene.

The shooting occurred shortly after the Chiefs left the stage, and Smith and his teammates ran into Union Station, he said on Good Morning America Thursday.

"I just remember the security guards ushering us through the doors quickly, saying, 'Come on, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up,' " Smith, 24, recalled. "They said, 'This is not a joke. It's a life and death situation.' "

Members of the team mixed with fans in the melee, and Smith and others found shelter in a closet, he said.

"Right before I run in there, there's a little kid in front of me so I just grabbed him and yanked him up and said, 'You're hopping in here with me, buddy,' " Smith recalled. "I don't know how many people were in the closet, maybe 20-plus."

Related: Teen at Chiefs Parade Shooting Reveals How Coach Andy Reid Comforted Him: 'He Was Hugging Me'

He added, "One of my teammates, my long snapper James Winchester, was very instrumental in helping keep people calm."

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Eventually, Smith and Winchester were able to leave the closet and head to the team’s buses, which were filled with fans who were trying to get out of harm’s way, Smith said.

"This little boy was with his father. He was a little hysterical. He just panicked. He was scared. He doesn't know what's going on," Smith said.

Just hours earlier, Smith was seen along the parade route — along with other Chiefs players — holding a WWE championship belt. But he realized that someone else could benefit more from what had been meant to be a celebratory accessory.

Related: Hero Dad Who Tackled a Suspect in Chiefs Parade Shooting Speaks Out: I Heard 'Get Him'

"I had the WWE belt the entire parade and I was thinking, what can I do to help him out?” Smith said. “I just handed him the belt and said, 'Hey buddy, you're the champion. No one is gonna hurt you. No one's gonna hurt you, man. We got your back.'"

Smith added, “He was looking out the window. He was seeing people reacting, trying to get out of the situation. I'm like, 'Here you go, buddy, this is yours. No one is gonna hurt you. You're here with us. You're going to be A-OK. You're going to be alright.' "

The shooting claimed the life of local radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was a mother of two, and more than 20 people were wounded in the incident.

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